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Pork In The Park To Host National Contest

SALISBURY — The annual Pork in the Park Barbeque Festival, sponsored each year by Wicomico County Recreation, Parks and Tourism, has been selected to launch a major national barbeque competition, officials announced this week.

The Pork in the Park Festival was chosen by Smithfield Foods to host a new national barbeque competition, the Smithfield Rib Shootout. To launch its new barbeque competition, Smithfield approached the Kansas City Barbeque Society and requested the top festivals in their major markets. Pork in the Park was identified as one of the top three in the nation and the only festival in Maryland chosen for the opportunity.

Pork in the Park will be the first barbeque festival to host the new national event. According to Wicomico officials, hosting the Smithfield Rib Shootout will put Pork in the Park in the national spotlight, providing the annual event with over 50 million traditional and social media impressions through local and national public relations efforts revolving around the event.

Pork in the Park will also receive additional exposure on the barbeque circuit as competitors from across the country will be notified of the event. In addition, Smithfield will provide prize money for the grand champion, reserve grand champion and third-place category winners at Pork in the Park. This year’s festival will take place on April 20-22 at Winterplace Park in Salisbury.